Bows
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4200
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 3:37pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Bows
Posted By: georgiadirector
Subject: Bows
Date Posted: 8/22/09 at 12:13am
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I've talked to several people about the order of the cast's bows and there are different theories. The two leads are usually pretty obvious, but the supporting actors can be tricky. I'd like to know how you decide.
By the way, we're doing the Stone version of Annie Get Your Gun and all the supporting actors (Winnie, Tommy, Buffalo Bill, Charlie) are extraordinarily strong. But I'm interested in your general "take" on bows as well as this particular show. Thanks!
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Replies:
Posted By: iamadramanerd
Date Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:12pm
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I think I am from old school of directing. My bows are very fast. The audience has clapped for every song and blackout, I don't want their arms to get tired. :-D
So my line up is chorus, (one bow) small parts, (one bow) second leads (two bows) and leads. (two bows and indicate the music and tech) I hope that's clear as mud. ------------- Wove, true Wove. |
Posted By: georgiadirector
Date Posted: 8/25/09 at 3:05am
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Thanks dramanerd. Other's? It might sound like a dumb question but I'm really struggling. The actor with the most lines? The actor with the most solo singing? The actor who steals the show? Any other criteria? What is most important? ------------- "I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!" Ouiser, Steel Magnolias |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 8/25/09 at 10:47am
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Curtain calls should not be "another act" of the show. Please, please, please !!! Whatever you do....make it fast. Performers certainly deserves a bow but when the cast is large, a curtain call can go on forever. We as an audience want to be polite and clap for your performance but we have just sit for 2 plus hours. Its getting late. And we can only sustain enthusiastic applause for so long. This has been a major pet peeve of mine for years and I try to make my curtain calls high energy and very very fast. The audience really appreciates it.------------- "REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT" |
Posted By: kries13
Date Posted: 8/25/09 at 1:54pm
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I do straight productions and tend to lean toward the ensemble bow. ------------- kries I art therefore I am. www.artisrelative.com |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 8/25/09 at 6:37pm
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Try 'Order of Apearance' ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: ReACT01
Date Posted: 8/31/09 at 1:36am
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Get it done ! Fast fast fast ! I like the order of apearance as well..If this is your biggest problem you are doing fine....LOL
Chris
ReACT
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 8/31/09 at 9:39pm
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Possibly with the exception of a Pantomime finarle, which tend to have a traditional order of 'walk downs'. The bows, as suggested, are whip in 'n off for the rag calls.
With musicals you can also get bogged down with an applause forced ensemble reprise, which is rehearsed, but at the discretion of the SM - but this can be a trap!
Gone are the days of counting how good the performance is, by the amount of 'house Rag Bounces'. ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: GracieLea
Date Posted: 9/03/09 at 2:39pm
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I'm in agreement with getting the curtain call done in pretty short order. Yes, the actors deserve that moment, but it can be done quickly.
As for the order - bringing characters out in their "groups" works - whether it be friends, co-horts, family, etc... even if some of them have bigger roles than others.
I just finished a production of "Come Back to the 5 and Dime...." and the director has us all on stage at the end, but we bowed in our "pairs" - Mona and Mona then, Joe and Joanne, etc.
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 9/03/09 at 9:15pm
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Blanche shed claret, as her bow was not fast enough.
Cate's Cruette Came a Croppah'n Cop'd it!
 http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/09/03/2675007.htm - http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/09/03/2675007.htm
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/blanchett-injured-in-stage-fight-20090902-f8ir.html - http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/blanchett-injured-in-stage-fight-20090902-f8ir.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6127356/Cate-Blanchett-injured-in-Streetcar-stage-accident.html - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6127356/Cate-Blanchett-injured-in-Streetcar-stage-accident.html ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 9/04/09 at 11:02am
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Joe,
Half the time I have no idea what you said, but I love the way you say it. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 9/04/09 at 11:13pm
Gdonya Patrick!
As has been suggested elsewhere, it would make for a good plot in a play "radio kills the video star".
 I'm glad she was not Bleche'd out completely - ,n able to carry on with the season
 I bet london to a brick, it did not forn part of the productions 'Risk Assesment' ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: georgiadirector
Date Posted: 9/05/09 at 3:14am
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Thank you for all the suggestions. I live in an area with 5 community theaters within a 15 mile radius so there's a lot of audience here. I'm guessing the "order of appearance" must be a regional thing. But I can tell you I would be booed to the other side of town if I tried to do order of appearance bows. However, the program will list the actors in order of appearance.
Speed was never an issue because I'm in full agreement and would never do bows any other way. I also agree with groups and was planning for them.
I thought there might be a rule of thumb for order, but I'm not hearing one so I'll just do it my way. Which is really the way I prefer it anyway
 ------------- "I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!" Ouiser, Steel Magnolias |